Which hormone is responsible for the rise in basal body temperature at the time of ovulation?

Which hormone is responsible for the rise in basal body temperature at the time of ovulation?

• A. Progesterone
• B. Estrogen
• C. LH
• D. FSH

Answer: (A)

The rise in basal body temperature is caused by progesterone. After ovulation, the follicle becomes the corpus luteum and begins secreting progesterone, which slightly raises the body's temperature set-point. This thermogenic effect shows up as a noticeable bump in basal body temperature during the luteal phase and remains elevated until either pregnancy occurs or the corpus luteum regresses. Estrogen largely drives the follicle-fertilization environment before ovulation and does not create this sustained temperature rise. LH triggers ovulation itself but does not cause the post-ovulatory temperature increase. FSH promotes follicle growth earlier in the cycle, not the temperature shift.

The rise in basal body temperature is caused by progesterone. After ovulation, the follicle becomes the corpus luteum and begins secreting progesterone, which slightly raises the body's temperature set-point. This thermogenic effect shows up as a noticeable bump in basal body temperature during the luteal phase and remains elevated until either pregnancy occurs or the corpus luteum regresses.

Estrogen largely drives the follicle-fertilization environment before ovulation and does not create this sustained temperature rise. LH triggers ovulation itself but does not cause the post-ovulatory temperature increase. FSH promotes follicle growth earlier in the cycle, not the temperature shift.